Alaska

Adaptation

Proactive adaptation in Alaska would reduce both short- and long-term costs associated with climate change, generate social and economic opportunity, and improve livelihood security. Direct engagement and partnership with communities is a vital element of adaptation in Alaska.

Alaska and its adjacent Arctic areas are experiencing some of the largest climate changes in the United States (Ch. 2: Climate, KM 7).14 As such, residents, governments, and industry must prepare for and adapt to the changing climate and associated environmental changes if the most severe impacts are to be avoided.187,188,241

Adaptation is often defined as an adjustment in human systems to a new or changing environment that exploits beneficial opportunities or moderates negative effects242 and is an iterative, ongoing process that involves assessment and redirection as needed (Ch. 28: Adaptation).243 Efforts to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change in Alaska can reduce costs associated with the impacts of climate change,20,91 generate social and economic opportunities,244,245 and improve livelihood security.125,246,247,248 Vulnerability analyses of Alaska communities indicate adaptation as a key element to address high vulnerabilities to biophysical impacts of climate change 249 and ocean acidification.250

Key elements of successful adaptation in Alaska include coordinated consideration of both environmental and social conditions134 and careful attention to local context; there is no “one-size-fits-all” strategy.187,188,251 Enhanced communication, coordination, knowledge sharing, and collaboration are important components of adaptation in Alaska. This includes between communities, among scientists and communities, and across government bodies at the tribal, community, borough, state, and national levels.251,252,253,254,255,256,257 Building adaptation solutions in partnership with local knowledge is vital for ensuring that adaptations meet local needs and priorities.254,258,259,260,261

A range of adaptations to changing climate and related environmental conditions are underway in Alaska, and others have been proposed as potential actions.135 These adaptations involve human health and poverty alleviation,136,188 livelihood security,125 ecosystem management,262 new construction designs for housing,263 and a host of other options.135 Some of these measures reduce vulnerability and risk, while others involve more systemic institutional transformation.255,260

At the federal level, there are several key motivations for Arctic Strategies created by various U.S. Government agencies, including 1) recognizing the need to adapt to a changing climate, 2) identifying critical research gaps, 3) creating a vision for regional resilience, and 4) acknowledging the need to safeguard national security under changing environmental conditions.264,265,266

Climate change action plans and vulnerability assessments have been completed by several municipalities in Alaska.135 Formal tribal adaptation planning and preliminary planning activities such as workshops, trainings, webinars, monitoring, and vulnerability assessments have been conducted throughout the state. As of this writing, three climate adaptation plans have been completed and three additional projects are underway to produce climate adaptation plans (Figure 26.9).8 The Bureau of Indian Affairs awarded eight Climate Resilience Program Awards for adaptation planning between 2013 and 2019.8 Research has identified 31 adaptation planning-related trainings (2012–2017) and 43 meetings, workshops, and summits (1998–2017).8 The state-funded Alaska Climate Change Impact Mitigation Program provides funding for hazard mitigation planning, including climate-related hazards such as flooding, coastal erosion, and permafrost thaw.8,135

Figure 26.9: Adaptation Planning in Alaska

Map shows the locations of tribal climate adaptation planning efforts across Alaska. Adaptation activities include community-led impacts assessments, trainings, workshops, webinars, and adaptation plans. Activities are concentrated in the northwest and southwest regions of Alaska, however, a number of adaptation plans are currently in progress in the southeastern part of the state.

Figure 26.9: The map shows tribal climate adaptation planning efforts in Alaska. Research is considered to be adaptation under some classification schemes.1,2 Alaska is scientifically data poor, compared to other Arctic regions.3 In addition to research conducted at universities and by federal scientists, local community observer programs exist through several organizations, including the National Weather Service for weather and river ice observations;4 the University of Alaska for invasive species;5 and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for local observations of environmental change.6 Additional examples of community-based monitoring can be found through the website of the Alaska Ocean Observing System.7 Source: adapted from Meeker and Kettle 2017.8

In contrast to planning and research, action in response to climate change involves active implementation of plans, changes in policy, protocol, or standard operating procedures, as well as direct reaction to hazards.135 In the wildfire management and response sector in Alaska, adaptations include establishment of new suppression crew training, evolution of tools used to suppress fire, change in the statutory start date of fire season, and the implementation of community wildfire protection plans.135

Several communities in Alaska face immediate threats from climate-related environmental changes, the most severe of which is erosion and coastal inundation related to permafrost thaw and lack of sea ice during fall and winter storms.122,267 Short-term disaster risk management, such as shoreline revetment, is thus part of adaptation in Alaska.242 Longer-term planning and village relocation efforts are also underway in two villages but face significant hurdles.268,269

Creating decision support tools, establishing climate services and knowledge networks, and providing data sharing and social media have been proposed as additional methods for adapting to the effects of climate change in Alaska.219,270,271,272,273 Tools that can identify and evaluate policy options under a range of scenarios of future conditions are particularly beneficial in the Arctic, including Alaska.274,275

Examples of decision support tools in the state include the Historical Sea Ice Atlas and the SNAP (Scenarios Network for Alaska + Arctic Planning) climate-outlook community charts276 of projected temperature and precipitation for each community in Alaska. Periodically evaluating decision support tools helps to ensure their usefulness to stakeholders in practical decision contexts.277

The use of technology can facilitate the creation and expansion of knowledge networks through events such as webinars278,279 and social media, such as the newly established AdaptAlaska.org portal and the Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network that connects people through information, both locally and internationally.6 Data sharing can be accomplished with online tools such as portals and data hubs; however, the isolated nature of remote, rural communities in Alaska constrains internet connectivity. In addition, technological solutions alone are insufficient to fully meet the information needs of rural communities in the region.253,271

A range of climate adaptation guidebooks exist that focus on climate adaptation planning in Alaska and neighboring Canada, which faces related adaptation challenges.134 These guidebooks have been created by universities, governments, and nongovernmental organizations for a range of audiences, including rural Native Alaska communities, local governments, and state governments. Consistent across the majority of the guidebooks are key phases in the adaptation planning process that include building partnerships and networks of stakeholders; conducting vulnerability and risk assessments; establishing priorities, options, and an implementation plan and evaluation metrics; implementing the preferred option; and conducting ongoing monitoring and adjustment of activities (Ch. 28: Adaptation).134